Circular RNAs: novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for ischemic stroke
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Updated: Dec 8, 2025
Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing
Published on: November 14, 2019
Qianwen Wang1, Xu Liu1, Jingjing Zhao1
1Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University , Shenyang, China.
Insights
Circular RNAs show promise for treating ischemic stroke, offering new therapeutic targets. These molecules are vital in the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Ischemic stroke is a major global health concern with limited therapeutic options.
- Current treatments like thrombolysis and thrombectomy have strict time windows and risks.
- Novel therapeutic targets are urgently needed to improve patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of circular RNAs in ischemic stroke.
- To evaluate circular RNAs as potential diagnostic and therapeutic agents for stroke.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on circular RNAs and ischemic stroke.
- Analysis of circular RNA involvement in the neurovascular unit's response to ischemia.
Main Results:
- Circular RNAs are stable and conserved in brain tissue, making them suitable for therapeutic applications.
- Circular RNAs are implicated in key processes of ischemic stroke, including neuroinflammation and apoptosis.
- Circular RNAs demonstrate potential in diagnosis, monitoring, therapy, and prognosis of ischemic stroke.
Conclusions:
- Circular RNAs represent promising therapeutic candidates for ischemic stroke.
- Further research into circular RNAs could lead to improved diagnostic tools and treatments for stroke.
Introduction:
Ischemic stroke is a life-threatening condition worldwide, including China. Nowadays, intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy are chiefly applied as clinical therapeutics; however, strict time windows and underlying risks limit their benefits for patients. Thus, it is urgently needed to seek new effective targets for stroke to improve clinical outcomes.
Areas Covered:
Circular RNAs have recently emerged as ideal therapeutic candidates for ischemic stroke with high stability and evolutionary conservation in the brain tissue. The neurovascular unit is a microscopic and complex three-dimensional domain key in the processes of this disease, and reflects diverse structures and functions of the brain tissue. During the progression of ischemic stroke, circular RNAs are extensively involved in the responses of the neurovascular unit including atherosclerosis, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and neurogenesis. Additionally, they display diagnostic, monitoring, therapeutic, and prognostic effects in the occurrence of and recovery from the disease.
Expert Opinion:
Exploration of circular RNAs and their correlated effects in ischemic stroke may facilitate accurate diagnosis and serve as new therapeutic targets for the disease.
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